The meeting took place at the end of the first day of the event (Tuesday 8 October 2024).
The Conference highlights cutting edge scientific research and how it impacts clinical practice in Emergency Medicine.
For those who weren’t able to attend the three-day event, or the AGM, content will be available on demand via the Events pages of the RCEM website.
The AGM featured updates from the College President Dr Adrian Boyle, RCEM Chief Executive Officer Gordon Miles, Dr Salwa Malik Vice President Membership and Dr James Gagg, Vice President Treasurer.
Members were able to join in person at the venue, or online, and eligible attendees took part in voting, which is advisory to the College’s Board of Trustees.
Dr Boyle opened the meeting with a summary of the work of the College during the past year highlighting the progress that has been made influencing for positive change on behalf of RCEM’s more than 12,000 members. He mentioned the work the College has been doing related to patient and member advocacy, the position statement on Physician Associates, the contribution and subsequent representation in the Darzi Review, and RCEM’s contribution to the Covid Inquiry.
Dr Boyle was followed by the College CEO Gordon Miles who detailed the work the College delivers through its three directorates: Education, Corporate Services and Engagement and External Affairs to support its members.
Dr Malik spoke about the work the College is doing to improve its offer to its members as well as trailing the results of the membership experience survey which was conducted earlier this year. The findings of the research are currently being analysed, and recommendations will be made in due course.
The last report came from RCEM VP Treasurer Dr James Gagg. He provided a summary of the College’s finances. (Much more detail can be found in the College’s Annual Review.) At the end of 2023 the College was running a deficit of around £250,000 which it has been working hard to reduce during 2024. He also discussed the College fees for 2025 and reminded members that they can claim tax relief of their subscriptions and exam fees, help about which you can see here. The College has held membership fees for six out of the past 12 years, and Dr Gagg explained that not having a consistent approach created uncertainly which is why a formula was being proposed to help with long term financial planning. The new formula, which will come into effect for 2025, is an average of previous three years inflation, capped at 5%.
Dr Gagg also discussed the College auditors and why it is recommending keeping the current auditors Moore Kingston Smith for one further year.
During the meeting the attendees were asked to vote on five matters.
Dr Boyle then announced the RCEM’s awards and medal winners for 2024 who are:
Dr Jo Daniels
Dr David Ratcliffe
MRCEM – Dr Stephanie Stone
FRCEM – Dr Oliver Hill
Dr Oliver Hill
Dr Alexandra Hellens
Major General Tim Hodgetts
Dr Chris Hook
(listed in alphabetical order):
Dr Andrew Ashton
Dr Hannah Sian Baird
Dr Stephen Richard Black
Dr Jim Connolly
Dr Ffion Davies
Dr Els Freshwater
Dr Suresh K Gopala Pillai
Dr Scott Hepburn
Dr Asif Malik
Dr Rachael Morris-Smith
Dr Stephen (Steff) Nash
Dr Lara Somerset
Dr Sally-Anne Wilson
The awards themselves will be presented at upcoming Diploma Ceremonies.
The President closed the meeting by noting those members who the College had been advised of as having died during the past year, sharing his condolences to all those affected, and delegates stood to give a moment’s reflection.
* If there are other College members whose passing you would like noted, please email their details to membership@rcem.ac.uk
You can read more about the changes to our fees and subscriptions for 2025 here.
